The Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital is recognized around the world for providing expert patient care, training the next generation of physicians, and spearheading ground-breaking research.

A Message from the Chairman

The Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) Department of Medicine (DOM) is the largest academic department at BWH and among the largest in the country. We are a Harvard Medical School (HMS)-affiliated academic department comprised of 21 divisions and more than 1,300 faculty. As with much of academic medicine, the DOM is moving through a period of dynamic change and is actively reconsidering and redeveloping traditional approaches in order to perpetuate future success across our tripartite mission. Some of our short-term efforts have already borne fruit, while other long-term efforts are still developing. I am honored to support and lead such an organization, which includes truly remarkable faculty and staff whose collective commitment is nothing short of extraordinary.

Clinical Mission

Each year, the DOM cares for about 20,000 inpatient admissions and 450,000 outpatient visits. Across this clinical enterprise, the department continues to adapt to an evolving local, regional, and national landscape. Both the regulated and de facto imperatives that have emerged highlight the critical need for enhanced clinical efficiencies. In line with this goal, we as a department have focused on three strategies to support further clinical integration:

Inpatient Services: We are actively engaging a host of patient progression initiatives to support better patient care and transitions for inpatients.

Outpatient Services: We are establishing and expanding our relationships with providers outside of the metro-Boston area in order to bring our capabilities closer to patients’ homes.

Information Technology: We are investing in new technological systems (e.g., the Epic medical record system, telemedicine, etc.).

With each of these strategies, we are seeking to support strengthened and streamlined care for patients. I am confident that this approach will ensure continued clinical success.

Research Mission

The Department of Medicine continues to pioneer biomedical research. Comprising almost 70% of the BWH research portfolio, the DOM remains among the largest recipients of sponsored funding of any academic department across the country.

The ongoing success of the department is due in large part to the innovation and leadership demonstrated by its scientists, who are noteworthy for their contributions in the fields of basic, translational, and clinical research across the areas of disease-oriented research, patient-oriented research, and population science. It should also be noted that the DOM has recently established a set of programs that are focused on engaging and supporting junior faculty development; we believe that support for junior faculty who are academically promising, professionally engaged, and provided the appropriate incentives will ensure the department’s continued status as a premier biomedical research enterprise for many years to come.

Educational Mission

The department’s education programs are among the most revered nationally and internationally. Each year, the DOM supports the education of over 180 rotating Harvard Medical School students, 205 medical residents, and 160 clinical fellows. The DOM is an active collaborator with Harvard Medical School, and is focused on the development of new departmental programs that are focused on more effectively equipping our trainees. Innovation in education remains a core function of premier academic programs, and the DOM is committed to continued efforts in this area.

As one of the largest departments of medicine in the country, I see it as our responsibility to pursue and advance the ideals of clinical, research, and educational expertise. I am pleased to share this website with you and hope it conveys our determination to stay true to our ideals while continually reinventing our approach in order to ensure continued success in the evolving environment of academic medicine.